Comments on: Being Rich and Stupidhttp://knuckleballsblog.com/2011/02/18/being-rich-and-stupid/
"Like butterflies with hiccups"Sat, 28 Mar 2015 15:24:58 +0000hourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.1By: Jim Crikkethttp://knuckleballsblog.com/2011/02/18/being-rich-and-stupid/#comment-4374
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:10:24 +0000http://knuckleballsblog.com/?p=5487#comment-4374frightwig, if a guy is dead set on testing free agency, absolutely… put out a drop dead date and stick to it. But in that case, the player frankly isn’t all that concerned with “legacy” or any of the other stuff that Pujols apparently wants people to believe is important to him. If you are genuinely interested in being a lifelong icon of your team and community, don’t do stupid things that make you look bad to the fans and local media.

Tom Verducci today quoted a “source close to Pujols” as saying, “It’s not about greed with Albert. It’s about pride.” And if I’m the Cardinals, my response would be, “I don’t care what you say it’s ‘about’, you’re trying to force me to pay history-making money to you until you’re over 40 years old and to commit to doing it a year before you’re a free agent. Screw you!” Then I would do two things: First, I’d make sure everyone in town knew their beloved alter boy star was more concerned about his greed… oh, sorry… his PRIDE… than he was about being a Cardinal. Second, I’d tell my Manager to make sure we got every ounce of sweat and blood out of this turnip this season, because we aren’t going to end up caring whether he’s healthy next year. In my mind, either Pujols really IS the greedy, prideful, jerk who is only concerned about making more money than A-Rod OR he’s an idiot who is making it way too easy for the Cardinals to make him look like it.

]]>By: frightwighttp://knuckleballsblog.com/2011/02/18/being-rich-and-stupid/#comment-4372
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 20:30:28 +0000http://knuckleballsblog.com/?p=5487#comment-4372I’d guess that some players like to cut off negotiations, when their real goal is to test the free agent market in a year, so that they don’t have to answer questions about shifting numbers during the season. Like, suppose someone in the Cards front office decides to float some numbers to a local beat writer in July, which might make Pujols the highest-paid player over the next 7 years (if the offer were legitimate). Every Cards fan would want to know, why won’t he take that? And if he’s supposedly “in negotiations,” he’d be expected to comment every time some new set of numbers gets floated in the media. But if negotiations have been formally suspended, yeah, he’ll still have to deal with some commotion whenever the Cards visit a major market, but he won’t really be expected to answer questions about rumored offers and why hasn’t he signed an extension already. If he’s even asked about the issue, he can just fall back on his stock answer, “We’ll deal with that after the season. Right now, I’m just focused on my performance and doing all I can to help the Cardinals win a World Series this season.”
]]>By: AWhttp://knuckleballsblog.com/2011/02/18/being-rich-and-stupid/#comment-4370
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:48:10 +0000http://knuckleballsblog.com/?p=5487#comment-4370Good points, Jim.
If there was ever a situation for some sort of a creative “legacy contract,” this might be it. I’d like to see Pujols give them some sort of discount, especially if he wants to play for a winning team the remainder of his career. I think, just off the top of my head, 10 years, $25 million a year, and something like $2 million a year for 10 years after that (after he retires) to be the face of the franchise/special assistant/whatever it’s called where he has an office, comes down to spring training, is out in the community doing goodwill things, and is right up there with Stan The Man as Mr. Cardinal.
]]>By: Jim Crikkethttp://knuckleballsblog.com/2011/02/18/being-rich-and-stupid/#comment-4369
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:36:36 +0000http://knuckleballsblog.com/?p=5487#comment-4369AW, you’re probably right about Albert not looking as bad once the dollar amounts of the Cards’ offer was leaked, but it’s the fact that he’s said “I won’t negotiate now” that I think makes him look like the bad guy. And it’s unnecessary since, as you said, if the Cards DID feel inclined to make a huge offer, there’s no way Pujols’ agent wouldn’t consider it. By the way, I don’t happen to think St Louis should pay him anywhere near what he’s demanding. And his posturing is playing right in to their hands… it gives them cover. “We would have kept negotiating and maybe come up with a deal, but he said ‘no negotiating'”.

JB, I considered adding something about Cabrera, but there’s part of me that just feels like that would be piling on to what’s essentially a very sad situation, right now. I’ll hold off my criticism while we wait to find out if he’s going to acknowledge his problem and really seek help this time. If he doesn’t, then yes… he’s right at the top of the stupid list and he’s fair game.

]]>By: JB_Iowahttp://knuckleballsblog.com/2011/02/18/being-rich-and-stupid/#comment-4368
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:21:55 +0000http://knuckleballsblog.com/?p=5487#comment-4368A column titled “Being Rich and Stupid” related to baseball and not one mention of Miggy? (Okay, there’s a lot more than stupidity to his behavior but he deserves at least a mention in the rich and stupid category today.)
]]>By: AWhttp://knuckleballsblog.com/2011/02/18/being-rich-and-stupid/#comment-4366
Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:12:50 +0000http://knuckleballsblog.com/?p=5487#comment-4366I have to say, I really don’t think Pujols came off looking that bad. As happens now, details leaked about what the Cardinals offered. Regardless of whether these leaked amounts were correct, the truth of the matter is that the reported numbers were not even in the ballpark of his market value, which, as you aptly noted, very well might be determined (and increased) by the Yankees and Red Sox.
You are correct that the deadline will not operate so as to prevent a distraction. Every series, especially on the road, is going to be a headache for Pujols and all his teammates. I have to think, if the Cardinals in June call Pujols’ agent with a 10 year $300 million offer, he probably would take it right then just to get the media off his back.
The circus this Wednesday definitely made me appreciate, even more, the Twins’ negotiations with Mauer last year.
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